Young happy to slow up Lichties’ title party

Nobody can stop Arbroath winning the League One title, East Fife manager Darren Young has admitted.

But the Methil men won’t be lacking motivation in tonight’s rearranged match.

“They will win the league but if we can slow that down I will be delighted,” said Young.

His priority is getting the Fifers going again in their hunt for promotion via the play-offs and he will be making changes to his starting line-up after a 4-3 defeat from Dumbarton at the weekend.

Young said: “We have Forfar away this Saturday and that is shaping up as a big game in terms of league position and a play-off place.

“It is a tough week for us, and I will make adjustments to our line-up that will get energy and legs on the pitch against Arbroath as well as look to get us a win and not another hard luck story.

“We were good for the first 20 minutes against Dumbarton but from then to half-time it was poor, and we lost three goals. Dom Thomas was the difference between the teams however we gave him far too much encouragement.

“We were allowing him to cut in from the wing and have a shot with his favoured foot. He ended up with a hat-trick, and they were all good finishes, however we should have learnt quickly from his first goal.

“We rallied and went down 4-3 and it was another game where we just came up short.

“We have had that against Partick Thistle, Ross County and now Dumbarton and it is time for that to change.”

Chris Kane is suspended after beings sent off at the weekend and Scott Agnew remains out with a shoulder injury. Craig Watson and Ross Dunlop have also been ruled out, with Young hoping to clinch the loan signing of Dundee United defender Stewart Murdoch before this evening’s kick-off.

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell has no injury or suspension worries to contend with.